Leather processing

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for processing leather hides utilizing a generally conventional first processing apparatus adapted to continuously process one-half only of the area of a leather hide, wherein a second processing apparatus identical in function to the first apparatus is provided in tandem, and wherein a hide is processed by first processing one-half only of the area of the hide utilizing the first apparatus and conveying the hide to the second apparatus for processing the other half of the hide without necessitating manual end-to-end reversal of the hide.

United States Patent Schwaller et a1.

[451 Jan. 25, 1972 1 LEATHER PROCESSING [72] inventors: Lando J.Schwaller; Albert J. Razal,

Sheboygan, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Amour Leather Company, a subsidiary ofAkzona,lncorporated, Sheboygan, Wis.

[22] Filed: Jan. 30, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 7,109

[52] US. Cl ..69/42 [51] Int. Cl. ..Cl4b 1/06 [58] Field ofSeai-ch..69/2l,41,42,43;271/77, 271/78, 67

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 594,055 11/1897 Wood..27l/77 X 721,893 3/1903 Johnston. ....27l/77 2,169,754 8/1939 Beyster..69/42 2,356,855 8/1944 Knowlton et a1..... ..69/41 3,085,421 4/1963Bueek ......69/42 Caskie ..27l/77 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS80,654 4/1963 France..... ....69/42 1,903,259 l/l969 Germany ....69/42626,637 10/1961 Italy ..69/42 Primary Examiner-Alfred R. GuestAttorneyCarl C. Batz and Francis W. Young [57] ABSTRACT A method andapparatus for processing leather hides utilizing a generallyconventional first processing apparatus adapted to continuously processone-half only of the area of a leather hide, wherein a second processingapparatus identical in function to the first apparatus is provided intandem, and wherein a hide is processed by first processing one-halfonly of the area of the hide utilizing the first apparatus and conveyingthe hide to the second apparatus for processing the other half of thehide without necessitating manual end-to-end reversal of the hide.

9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Schwaller ..69/43 LEATHER PROCESSINGBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In processing leather hides or sides,conventional construction of certain leather processing machines forwringing, fleshing, unhairing, seudding, setting out or whole hidestaking usually requires that, in operation, after the leading one-halfof the area or face of a hide is processed by a particular machine, thehide then be disengaged from the machine and manually reversed end forend to facilitate processing the formerly trailing other half of thehide in the same machine. To circumvent manual labor for performing theheretofore neces sary hide reversal, continuous straight-through feedmachines have been proposed recently as an alternative to the morecommon two-pass machines described above. However, substitution of newmachines for the many presently on hand for a like function, is notalways justifiable financially, as well as for operational reasons.

In this light, it is a general object of the present invention to makemore efficient conventional leather processing practices by eliminatingthe need for manual labor for end-to-end reversal of a hide duringleather processing by conventional machines heretofore requiring suchreversal, without resort to new straight-through feed machine concepts.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In achieving this general object, thepresent invention provides a leather processing method and apparatus forcircumventing the problem heretofore noted. More specifically, thepresent invention provides a leather hide processing method andapparatus including a first hide processing apparatus adapted tocontinuously process the leading one-half only of the area of a hide anda second hide processing apparatus substantially identical in functionto the first hide processing apparatus but intended to process the otherhalf of the area of the hide. Power conveying means for conveying thehide from the first to the second processing apparatus is provided, theorientation and the operationof which is such to circumvent manual hidereversal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In describing the present invention,reference will be made to the accompanying drawing forming a part of theinstant invention disclosure wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of a leather processing systemaccording to the present invention including first and second leatherhide processing apparatus and an associated conveyor system therefor;and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of one of the conveyorsof the system shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring in more detail to FIG. 1of the drawings, a processing system for processing leather hi-ies orsides is shown therein comprising first and second leather hideprocessing apparatus or machines 12 and 14, respectively, along with andassociated power conveyor system 16 for transporting leather hides orsides to and from the apparatus without the necessity of manual labor.

For purposes of the instant disclosure, the apparatus 12 and 14 may bedescribed as conventional leather hide wringing machines such asmanufactured by Stehling, but it should be understood that the presentinvention has equal applicability to conventional machines for fleshing,unhairing, scudding, setting out or whole hide staking. The machines! 2and 14 are generally identical in construction and function but arepositioned in opposed relation with the first machine 12 supported at ahigher elevation by a support 18. The first wringing machine 12comprises a closed housing 20 having an opening 22 on an upper forwardwall thereof for feeding and removal of hides therethrough. Positionedin the housing 20 is a pivotable arm 24 pivoted on its lower end 26 forswinging movement by a motor (not shown) from a lower or open positionto a vertical, upper or closed position. On the upper end of the arm 24a feed roller 28 is rotatably mounted for driven rotation in a clockwisedirection. Positioned on the arm 24 below the feed roller 28 is a firstwringing roller 30 adapted to be driven in a counterclockwise directionto cooperate with a second wringing roller 32 adapted to be driven in aclockwise direction for wringing a hide directed therebetween.

In conventional operation of such wringing machines, an operatormanually positions a leading edge of a stretched out hide on the feedroller 28. After one-half of the hide is fed between the wringerrollers, the machine is closed by pivoting the arm 24 to the verticalposition shown in FIG. 1. Power rotation of the wringer rollers resultsin wringing the leading half of the hide which is redirected backthrough the opening 22. At this point the operator conventionallyreopens the machine, rotates the hide end for end, positions theformerly trailing edge upon the feed roller 28 and recloses the machineto repeat the wringing operation on the other or formerly trailing halfof the hide.

The second wringing machine 14 is substantially identical inconstruction and function to the apparatus 12, it being understood thatthe description of the first machine 12 applies to the second, wherein asecond housing 40, a second opening 42, a second arm 44, a second lowerarm end 46, a second feed roller 48, and a second pair of wringerrollers 50, 52 are provided.

To circumvent the requirement for manual labor in feeding, reversal,refeeding and removal of hides during the wringing operation, theconveyor system 16 of the present invention is provided. The system 16comprises a hide infeed conveyor 54 supported on a frame 56 extendinglaterally between the first and second wringing machines 12 and 14. Theinfeed conveyor 54 may be of any conventional design such as a motorizedendless belt trained about first and second end rollers 58 and 60.Positioned subjacent the second end roller 60 of the infeed conveyor 54is a first reciprocating conveyor assembly 62 adapted to receive hidesdelivered from the infeed conveyor 54 and deliver the same to the firstmachine 12. The reciprocating conveyor assembly 62 is narrower in widththan the infeed conveyor 54 and is adapted to be moved entirely beneaththe same.

The first reciprocating conveyor assembly 62 comprises a horizontallyextending frame 64 including a pair of laterally spaced frame sidemembers 66 one of which is shown in FIG. 2. The side members 66 areconnected intermediate their length by at least one crossmember 68 towhich a conveyor bed plate 70 is fixedly connected. A pair of trackrollers 72 rotatably mounted on stub shafts 74 are positioned to projectlaterally from each side member 66 to movably support the assembly ontracks 75 fixed on the frame 56. Rotatably mounted on longitudinal endsof the side members 66 are a pair of rotatable roller shafts 76 and 78to the latter of which a belt pulley 80 is drivingly connected. Fixedlymounted on an extension of frame 56 is an electric motor 82 drivinglyconnected to a reduction gearbox 84, an output shaft 86 of which isprovided with a belt pulley 88 for driving the roller shaft belt pulley80 through a belt 90. Movingly trained about the roller shafts 76 and78, are a plurality of laterally spaced endless belt strips 92 spacedacross the conveyor bed plate 70 for movement relative thereto. Spacedacross the right-hand end of the conveyor bed plate 70 projectingupwardly between certain of the strips 92 are three electric micro ortiming switches 94, one of which is shown in FIG. 2. A switch actuator96 projects upwardly from the switch and is adapted to be actuated uponcontact with a leather hide being conveyed thereacross by the conveyorassembly 62 for energizing an adjustable time (not shown) forcontrolling conveyor and machine operation.

The conveyor frame 64 is further provided with a longitudinallyextending toothed rack 98 projecting from the lower end thereof whichcooperates with a gear 100 rotatably mounted on the free end of a pistonrod 102 of a fluid motor assembly 104 fixed to the frame assembly 56.Positioned below the gear 100 and cooperating therewith, is a fixedtoothed rack 106 fixedly mounted on the frame assembly 56. In operation,upon introduction of air or other hydraulic fluid to therod end of thecylinder assembly 104 from a conventional .pump and valve assembly (notshown), the piston rod 102 is retracted causing counterclockwiserotation of the gear 100 and movement of the entire first reciprocatingconveyor assembly 62 to the left, as shown in FIG. 1, to the phantomline position shown therein. Upon completion of movement of the conveyorassembly 62 to an extreme left-hand end of the frame assembly 56, theleft-hand end of the conveyor assembly 62 contacts an electric stopswitch 108 which, through suitable circuitry not shown, actuates thecylinder valve to direct fluid from the fluid pump to the piston end ofthe cylinder 104 to reverse movement of the first reciprocating conveyorassembly 62 back towards the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1.

Positioned subjacent the reciprocating conveyor assembly 62 on the frameassembly 56, is a motorized intermediate conveyor 110 of anyconventional type which may be of an endless belt trained about endrollers 112 and 114 and adapted ,to receive hides processed by the firstwringing machine 12 upon reciprocation of thereciprocating conveyorassembly 62 to the phantom line position and deliver the hides to asecond reciprocating conveyor assembly 116. The second reciprocatingconveyor assembly 116 is identical in constructionand function to thefirst reciprocating conveyor assembly 62 except that the endless beltstrips thereof are driven in a counterclockwise direction and the entiresecond reciprocating conveyor assembly 116 is adapted to be moved to theright, as shown in FIG. 1 in phantom lines, to deliver hides processedby the second wringing machine 14 to an outfeed conveyor assembly 118positioned therebeneath. The outfeed conveyor assembly 118 may be of anyconventional motorized type such as an endless belt trained over endrollers for transporting hides to other type processing machines.

In operation, hides are intermittently delivered by the infeed conveyorassembly 54 to the first reciprocating conveyor assembly 62 positionedas shown in full lines in FIG. 1. Clockwise movement of the endless beltstrips 92 causes a hide to advance towardsthe first wringing machine 12in a stretched out condition. When the leading end of the hide strikesone or more of the actuators 96, an electric timing circuit is energizedwhereby, after sufficient time has elapsed for movement of one-half ofthe hide past the first wringing roller 30, the pivotable arm 24 will becaused to move to the vertical closed position shown in FIG. 1. Thewringing rollers 30, 32 are caused. to rotate to commence a wringingfunction of the leading one-half of the hide. Upon commencement of thewringing function by the wringing rollers 30, 32, the fluid motorassembly 104 is actuated to move the first reciprocating conveyorassembly 62 to the left, as shown in FIG. 1, to the phantom lineposition. Upon such movement, the trailing half of the hide supported onthe first conveyor assembly 62 which is projecting from the firstwringing machine 12, remains relatively stationary as the reciprocatingconveyor is moved from beneath the same. After sufficient movement ofthe conveyor assembly 62 to the left, the trailing half of the hidefalls downwardly in a spreadcondition on to the intermediate conveyorassembly 110 for transportation to the second reciprocating conveyorassembly 116 for performance of the wringing operation on theformerlytrailing, now leading, half of the hide by the second wringingmachine 14. The first reciprocating conveyor assembly 62 moves to theleft until actuation of the stop switch 108 is contacted after whichthis conveyor assembly is returned to its. initial position. Uponcompletion of the wringing operation on the second half of the hide, thesecond reciprocating conveyor assembly 116 is moved to the right, asshown in FIG. 1. After sufficient movement of the conveyor, the free endof the hide projecting from the second wringing machine 14 is free tofall on the outfeed conveyor 118 for subsequent delivery to leatherprocessing machines of basically different types required for completionof the leather processing operation.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been described,it should be appreciated that various modifications and substitutionsmay be made which are encompassed by the present invention, the scope ofwhich is to be determined by reference to the accompanying claims.

We claim: v

1. In a system for processing leather hides including first and secondprocessing machines arranged in opposing relation, the combinationcomprising: a first conveyor adapted to receive hides and includingpowered belt means for supporting and feeding a hide to said firstprocessing machine wherein one-half of one surface of said hide isprocessed; first reciprocating means for moving said first conveyorbetween a first position adjacent said first processing machinewherefrom said hide is fed into said first processing machine, and asecond position remote therefrom; a second conveyor mounted beneath saidfirst conveyor at said first position; and first control meansresponsive to said first machines receiving approximately one-half ofsaid hide surface for moving said first conveyor to said second positionwhile said hide is held by said first machine whereby the untreated sideof said hide falls spread out under gravity onto said second conveyorfor conveying said hide toward said second processing machine with thesame surface up.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising means responsive to theretraction of said first conveyor to said second position for reversingsaid reciprocating means to move said first conveyor back to said firstposition whereby said first conveyor is adapted to feed a subsequenthide into said first processing machine.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said first conveyor includes a frame;endless belt means rotatably mounted on said frame; wheel meanssupporting said frame; track means supporting said wheel means andextending between said first and second positions; and motor means onsaid frame for actuating said endless belt means to feed a hide intosaid first machine.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising third conveyor means adaptedto receive hides from said second conveyor and including powered beltmeans for supporting and feeding a hide to said second processingmachine wherein the untreated one-half of said same surface of said hideis processed; second reciprocating means for moving said third conveyorbetween a first position adjacent said second processing machinewherefrom said hide is fed into said second processing machine and asecond position remote therefrom; fourth conveyor means mounted beneathsaid third conveyor at said first position thereof; and second controlmeans responsive to said second processing machines receiving the secondone-half of said hide surface for removing said third conveyor to saidsecond position while said hide is held by said second processingmachine whereby the first-treated side of said hide falls spread outunder gravity onto said fourth conveyor means. I

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said first control means comprisestiming means including sensor means responsive to the position of saidhides on said first conveyor means for timing the entry of approximatelyone-half'of said hide into said first processing machine, said timingmeans thereupon energizing said first reciprocating means for retractingsaid first conveyor means to said first position, whereby the trailingedge of said hide falls onto said second conveyor means spread out andwith the same surface up.

6. A system for treating said first and second sides of the same surfaceof ahide comprising: first and second processing machines, arranged inopposed relation; input feed means conveying a leading half of said hidefollowed by a trailing half; first reciprocating conveyor means adaptedfor reciprocation between a first position whereat said first conveyormeans receives a hide from said input feed means and transports the sameinto said first processing machine, and a second position remote fromsaid first processing machine; second conveyor means mounted beneath thefirst position of said first reciprocating conveyor means and adapted toreceive the trailing half of-a hide being processed in said firstprocessing machine when said second conveyor means is retracted to saidsecond position thereof; timing means including a switch mounted on saidinput feed means adjacent the downstream end thereof and responsive tothe leading edge of 2 hide for timing the intake of a hide into saidfirst processing machine until approximately one-half of said hideenters said processing machine, said timing means thence causing saidfirst reciprocating conveyor means to be retracted to said secondposition whereupon the trailing half of said hide will fall undergravity spread out onto said second conveyor means; and limit switchmeans responsive to the positioning of said first reciprocating conveyormeans in said second position for returning said first reciprocatingconveyor means back to said first position whereby said firstreciprocating conveyor means is adapted to receive a subsequent hide;said second conveyor means thence conveying the trailing half of saidhide from said first processing machine to said second processingmachine for treatment therein with the same side up.

7. A system for sequentially treating a first half and a second half ofthe same side of a leather hide comprising: first and second processingmachines, arranged in opposed relation; an infeed conveyor system forconveying hides toward said first processing machine with a leading edgefollowed by a trailing edge; a first reciprocating conveyor adapted toreceive hides from said infeed conveyor in a first position and to feeda hide into said first processing machine, said first reciprocatingconveyor including powered endless belt conveyor means for conveyinghides into said first processing apparatus on said first position, saidfirst reciprocating conveyor means being retractable to a secondposition out of supporting relation with the trailing half of said hidewhen the leading half of said hide is fed into said first processingmachine; intermediate conveyor means located beneath said firstreciprocating conveyor in said first position for receiving saidtrailing half after said first reciprocating conveyor has been retractedto said second position and for conveying said hide away from said firstprocessing machine with said trailing edge first; second reciprocatingconveyor means adapted to receive hides from said intermediate conveyormeans in a first position wherein said second conveyor means feeds saidhides into said second hide processing machine, said secondreciprocating conveyor means being adapted to be retracted to a secondposition remote from said second processing apparatus and out of supportwith said leading half of said hide when said trailing half thereof isbeing held in said second processing apparatus; and outfeed conveyormeans adapted to receive said trailing half of said hide when saidsecond reciprocating conveyor means is retracted to said second positionthereof for conveying said hide away from said second processingmachine.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein each of said first and secondreciprocating conveyor means includes sensor means responsive to thefirst-coming edge of a hide when the associated reciprocating conveyormeans is in its infeed position, for timing the infeed of a hide intoits associated processing machine so that approximately one one-half ofa hide is feed into each machine for processing when said reciprocatingconveyor means are retracted to said second positions 9. The system ofclaim 8 wherein each of said first and second reciprocating meansfurther include limit switch means responsive to the retraction of theirrespective reciprocating conveyor means for returning the same to theirassociated first positions when fully removed from supporting relationwith a hide.

1. In a system for processing leather hides including first and second processing machines arranged in opposing relation, the combination comprising: a first conveyor adapted to receive hides and including powered belt means for supporting and feeding a hide to said first processing machine wherein one-half of one surface of said hide is processed; first reciprocating means for moving said first conveyor between a first position adjacent said first processing machine wherefrom said hide is fed into said first processing machine, and a second position remote therefrom; a second conveyor mounted beneath said first conveyor at said first position; and first control means responsive to said first machine''s receiving approximately one-half of said hide surface for moving said first conveyor to said second position while said hide is held by said first machine whereby the untreated side of said hide falls spread out under gravity onto said second conveyor for conveying said hide toward said second processing machine with the same surface up.
 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising means responsive to the retraction of said first conveyor to said second position for reversing said reciprocating means to move said first conveyor back to said first position whereby said first conveyor is adapted to feed a subsequent hide into said first processing machine.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said first conveyor includes a frame; endless belt means rotatably mounted on said frame; wheel means supporting said frame; track means supporting said wheel means and extending between said first and second positions; and motor means on said frame for actuating said endless belt means to feed a hide into said first machine.
 4. The system of claim 1 further comprising third conveyor means adapted to receive hides from said second conveyor and including powered belt means for supporting and feeding a hide to said Second processing machine wherein the untreated one-half of said same surface of said hide is processed; second reciprocating means for moving said third conveyor between a first position adjacent said second processing machine wherefrom said hide is fed into said second processing machine and a second position remote therefrom; fourth conveyor means mounted beneath said third conveyor at said first position thereof; and second control means responsive to said second processing machine''s receiving the second one-half of said hide surface for removing said third conveyor to said second position while said hide is held by said second processing machine whereby the first-treated side of said hide falls spread out under gravity onto said fourth conveyor means.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein said first control means comprises timing means including sensor means responsive to the position of said hides on said first conveyor means for timing the entry of approximately one-half of said hide into said first processing machine, said timing means thereupon energizing said first reciprocating means for retracting said first conveyor means to said first position, whereby the trailing edge of said hide falls onto said second conveyor means spread out and with the same surface up.
 6. A system for treating said first and second sides of the same surface of a hide comprising: first and second processing machines, arranged in opposed relation; input feed means conveying a leading half of said hide followed by a trailing half; first reciprocating conveyor means adapted for reciprocation between a first position whereat said first conveyor means receives a hide from said input feed means and transports the same into said first processing machine, and a second position remote from said first processing machine; second conveyor means mounted beneath the first position of said first reciprocating conveyor means and adapted to receive the trailing half of a hide being processed in said first processing machine when said second conveyor means is retracted to said second position thereof; timing means including a switch mounted on said input feed means adjacent the downstream end thereof and responsive to the leading edge of a hide for timing the intake of a hide into said first processing machine until approximately one-half of said hide enters said processing machine, said timing means thence causing said first reciprocating conveyor means to be retracted to said second position whereupon the trailing half of said hide will fall under gravity spread out onto said second conveyor means; and limit switch means responsive to the positioning of said first reciprocating conveyor means in said second position for returning said first reciprocating conveyor means back to said first position whereby said first reciprocating conveyor means is adapted to receive a subsequent hide; said second conveyor means thence conveying the trailing half of said hide from said first processing machine to said second processing machine for treatment therein with the same side up.
 7. A system for sequentially treating a first half and a second half of the same side of a leather hide comprising: first and second processing machines, arranged in opposed relation; an infeed conveyor system for conveying hides toward said first processing machine with a leading edge followed by a trailing edge; a first reciprocating conveyor adapted to receive hides from said infeed conveyor in a first position and to feed a hide into said first processing machine, said first reciprocating conveyor including powered endless belt conveyor means for conveying hides into said first processing apparatus on said first position, said first reciprocating conveyor means being retractable to a second position out of supporting relation with the trailing half of said hide when the leading half of said hide is fed into said first processing machine; intermediate conveyor means located beneath said first reciprocating conveyor in said first positioN for receiving said trailing half after said first reciprocating conveyor has been retracted to said second position and for conveying said hide away from said first processing machine with said trailing edge first; second reciprocating conveyor means adapted to receive hides from said intermediate conveyor means in a first position wherein said second conveyor means feeds said hides into said second hide processing machine, said second reciprocating conveyor means being adapted to be retracted to a second position remote from said second processing apparatus and out of support with said leading half of said hide when said trailing half thereof is being held in said second processing apparatus; and outfeed conveyor means adapted to receive said trailing half of said hide when said second reciprocating conveyor means is retracted to said second position thereof for conveying said hide away from said second processing machine.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein each of said first and second reciprocating conveyor means includes sensor means responsive to the first-coming edge of a hide when the associated reciprocating conveyor means is in its infeed position, for timing the infeed of a hide into its associated processing machine so that approximately one one-half of a hide is feed into each machine for processing when said reciprocating conveyor means are retracted to said second positions.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein each of said first and second reciprocating means further include limit switch means responsive to the retraction of their respective reciprocating conveyor means for returning the same to their associated first positions when fully removed from supporting relation with a hide. 